Focusing mechanism for cameras



Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,743 E. E. UNDERWOQD EOCUSING MECHANISM FOR CAMERAS FiledMa 21. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Eme5%E. Meryl 062 Eff- ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 6, 1927.

1,651,743 E. E. UNDERWOOD FOCUSING MECHANISM FOR CAMERAS Filed May 21. 192 6 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ENTOR, Enwsi'E. bhderwoaw,

. )8 i V I fill Patented Dec. 6, 1927..

lJNlTED STATES PATENT @FMCE.

ERNEST E. UNDERWOOD, OF ROCHESTER, NE'XV YORK, .ASSIGNOB T EASTIw/ZAN KODAK COMPANY, 015' ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 035 NE? Y FGCUSIIIG IYIECEIANISM FOR CAI/IERAS.

Application filed May 21.,

This invention relates to photography and more )articularly to the focusing cameras of the folding tyn. One object of my invention is to provide a mechanism by which the camera objective may be adjusted rclalive to the focal plane of the film. Another object is to provide a movable track upon which the lens carriage may move and. a tow sioning means to hold the track against the bed. Another object is to provide a. track structure in which the guideways for the sliding track are concealed by means of a cover plate. Another object is to provide a combined cover plate and tensioning de vice for holding the track against the bed with the desired friction. Other objects will appear hereinafter from the following specification, the novel features being arranged in the claims at the end thereof.

It has been common practice to mount a movable camera track upon studs passing into the camera bed. This practice has certain disadvantages because the stock from which the camera track is made frequently varies in thickness and consequently, it is difiicult to maintain a desired tension on the studs uponwhieh the track slides. Obviously if the stock runs thick and with studs of a standard size, the track will bind; if the stock should run under the normal gauge the track may move too freely. My invention is particularly directed to overcome such manufacturing difficulties by providing a tensioning plate which will care for the usual stock variations and which will provide a uniform tension upon the track at all times.

Coming now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts throughout,-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a typical folding camera constructed in accordance with and illustrating one form of my invention;

F 2 is a top plan view of the camera with the bed open, and Wit-lithe camera can riage in a folded position;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4: is a plan view showing another embodiment of my invention with the track moving mechanism omitted;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view of a camera bed equipped with a movable track constructed in accordance with another embodiment of my invention, parts being omitted for clearness; and

Fig. 7 is a sect-ion on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

1928. Serial No. 110,G82.

In the preferred embodiment of my invc tion shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, I have shown a camera of the small folding type, comprising a body portion 1, to whi -h hinged a bed 2. which may be suppo in an open position, as shown in Fig.1. 1 means of the bed braces 23, which are pivt at l to the bed. A bellows connectm l at one end to the ca'i'nerz. body and at the other end 6 to a lens boai '2, which supports the usual finder 8 and the camera r-hutter 9 which the objective may be mounted. Only portion 10 of the objective mounting is shown. The lens board 7 forms a part of the lens carriage 11, which is formed in two parts 12 and 13 hinged together at i l 12 carries a hinged latch member 15 which. may be operated by the handle is, and which has a tail 1'? adapted to engage in a notched latch 18 which, as best shown in Figure 2, is preferably attached to the tr k 20 by means of screws 1. The fronttion of the lens carriage 13 carries a in )o 521 by which the lens carriage may be moved. A folding leg 22 is provided for supporting the camera on a fiat surface. So far the described construction is of a well known type camera.

In order to focus the camera objective any desired track-moving n'iechanism may be employed. By way of illustration, I have shown in Figure 2 a fixed screw simpoited at each end by the brackets 24-. On this: screw there is a knurled. nut having); a groove 26 in it. This groove is adapted to receive one end 2? of a bracket which may be aflixed to the track 20 by screws Thus when the nut is turned the track moved on the camera bed to adjust the objective to various focal distanc Coming now to my invention the track designated broadly as 20 may consist of a plate having cut-out areas 29. These areas may vary in size and shape, and are provided to lighten the weight of the camera and also to provide openings through which the star 30 which support'the track tensioning pl 31 may pass. 111 the embodim nt shown in the track member upon washers 33, which surround the studs 30, so as to space the track a short distance from bed The plv te ill is ol spring meal and it is held in a tired position relative to the bed by means of the studs 30.

in the embodiment shown in the first three figures or the drawings the track 20 is guided by the studs 30 pasing through the. cutout portions 29, and is frict-ionally held against the bed by means of the spring plate 3.1. This frictional engagement insures smooth operation (it the plate when it is moved by turning the nut in a second embodiment; of my invention, illustrated in l igures l and :3. d e L'ttllltfl't! tract; 20 is provided with cut-out portions 22 and the studs (it) pails up through these cut outs and are solely :t'or ttaching the tensioning plate ill to the at bed. in k L g t 7 J1 this term the edges on o'l. put ill term a guideway which lo tracl; Lt), end which permits the track to slide under the mtluence of an actuating mechanism, such as that shown in. Figure 2. Plate 3i not only track 20, but also l rictionolly holds it a. the bed as in the lirst described embodn In Figures (3 and 7 still another einh ment of my invention is showz'i. Here the track 20 is provided with the cut outs the inner edges of which 36 may engage rollers 37 which may be supported by the studs As shown in Figure '7, these studs pass up through the tensioning plate 3-1 and hold in e fixed position relative to the bed ll desired the edges 36 may be torn ed downwardly at 2-38, so that a relatively small bearing surface may be produced, and the track QOHAZ y be moved upon these flanges with a n'iininunn contact with the camera bed.

In all of ti above described embodiments of my invention there is a tensioniug plate Ill provided to hold the track resiliently against the bed. This plate presents a surlj'ztce which. covers up the utsmooth 4 track, and t.

out portions of the :an'iere, his plate max be suitably finished to uuprovc the nember tensioncombination with a bed, oi? a track movably mounted on the bed, and a ing plate, studs for attaching the tensioning plate to the bed, said studs passing through the track member whereby the tract: may be held under tension against and may be guided on the bed.

3. In a focusing device 'lor cameras, the combination with a bed, of a track member including a plate having formed up lateral rails and cut-out areas lying between the rails, studs passing through said cut-out areas, and means for holding the track against the bed under tension comprising a .s-ipring member adapted to lie between the termed. up rails, said spring member being attached to the bed by the studs.

-l-. in it :iiocusing device for cameras, the combination with a bed, oi a track member curried by the bed, a tensioning plate adapt ed to hold the trawl: member under tension against the bed, and common means for gold ing the track and holding the tensioning plate relative to the bed.

5. In a focusing device for cannras, the con'ibination with a bed, of a tech inen'iber carried by the bed, said track member being irovidcd with a plurality oil? cut-out areas, studs carried by the bed passing through the cut-out areas, and a tensionii'ig plate formed of spring metal mounted on the studs, said tensioning plate being adapted to press edges of the track .vhereby the track may be 'irictionally pressee against the bed.

6. In a focusing device for cameras, the combination with a bed, of studs attached to the bed, a track movably mounted on the bed being guided by the studs, and a tensioning plate carried by the studs and frictionally engaging the t 'aclc, whereby the trzrl: n'iay be held 2 iinst the bed.

7. In a focusing device 'lor cameras, the eon'ibination with a bed, of a track movably mounted thereon, and a to i 'oniug plate car ried by the bed adapted to pr is the loi'tgb tudiuell edges ol the track toward the bed.

8. In av toeusiugdevice for camereis. the combination with a bed, of a truck carried by the bed, said track including a plate with formed up rails along the lateral edges ot' the plate, and re ilient means adapted to press the track against the bed, said means contacting with the trac along the base of the rails.

Signed at Rochester, New York, this 18th day of May, 1926.

ERNEST F. UNDlGRVVOt )l). 

